The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1887-10-05
DARK AND CHEERLESS.


DARK AND CHERRIES.
Noted Infidels Views Of Life-"Thero
Isn't Much to It"-The Bold and arrcn
Peaks Controlled with the Light That
Shines From Out he Divine Revelation.
There is something very suggestive
and instructive in remark attributed
to the arch inidel. Robert G. Ingersoll;
Life IS very sad to me; it is very pitt
full; there isn't much to it." From
Mr.. Ingersoll. considering all things.
this is remarkable language. He is
not poor dyspeptic whose stomach
often gets above his heart and lies on
it with load that crushas all Joy out
OF it. He is a man Of good digestion.
good blood and plenty of it. has a
physique to be admired and to be COW
etcd. In the prime of life. with a
comfortable competence, enviable rep
utation for the most popular and cap
tivating gifts, hailed and appleuded
by immense audiences whenever he
speaks, happy according to Dr.. Field,
in his family, where he is lovable and
devotedly loved. yet this man says:
Life is very sad to me-" ctc.
This must be revelation to the hum
drcds Of thousands who screamed with
laughter at his wit and drollery and
sarcasm as he employed them in his
raillery at the Bible and Bible charac-
tiers. Will it not seem surprising to
his gay admirers that this man. so full
of humor and fun and ridicule. should
be sad and cheerless and say of life:
1T is very pitiful; there isn't much to
it." If there ''isn't much to it, for a
man 80 peculiarly favored by nature
and fortune. what shall be said for the
lot Of those-and they are in the i'm
mense majority-to whom life comes as
an inheritance of physical infirmity
and pain. of poverty and toll. mental
disquietudo and spiritual unrest. un.
ceasing domestic and social burdens
ard sorrowsP What has Mr. Ingersoll to
say to themp What has he to say for
HIMSELF Fortunate as he is, he has
had some experience of the troubles
from which meme of us can escape.
Some years ago he was bereaved of &
brother whom he loved. He ofliciatcd
AT the funeral. His address on the oc
casion was characteristic for rhetorical
beauty and also for its utter cherries
ness and barrenness of hope. Life il
but morrow vale between the colo
and barren peaks of two eternities. ;
No wonder if this is all and the best
there isn't m CHI to it.
At another time. with this burden of
him. the like of which Is always crush
ing some bleeding hears. he is frivol.
Gus and comical. aid talks about be
ing "as ready" should there be ,
future life. ''as the next man to ente
on any remunerative occupation
But ''thc peaks arc barren and cold
which lie between this and that con
tingency, and he has nothing bu
jokes about it. and scorn and sarcasm
Cor those who look as seeing H in
who is invisible" and wait to b,
satisfied when they awake in Hi
likeness" But Mr.. lngorsolrs expert
ence as an intdel about the sadnes!
and emptiness of life is not singular.
Other noted infidels. much more seri
Gus aad profound. able to disclose tt
Others aud enjoy them selves an.
secret comforts there may lie hiddel
in phi'osophic unbelief, If such ther
be. have anticipated him and even We
more bitterly bcwailed the calamity o
human existence. A, Mr.. Ingersol
only notoriously rchashod the old in
fidel arguments and sneers. addin
absolutely nothing original, save
may be the brilliant tinsol of uniqn
sarcasm. or jaunty blasphemy t
point The inconscquent logic of hi
predecessors and his own, it is not t
be expeo d that his occasional sobe
confessions, such as the one quoted i
this article. should be very differeu
IAUW Mis
lament resembles that of his grea
French master and superior, Vo
taire, who said: "The world abound
with wonders also with victims
In man is more wretchet
ness than in all other animals put Il
gether. MN loves life, yet knows h
must die; spends his existence I
difflsing the miseries he has suffered
cutting the threats of his fellow
creatures for pay; cheating and bein
cheated. The bulk of mankind al
nothing more than crowd of wretche
equally criminal equally unfortunate
Iwish had never been horn" To IL
French skeptic. 1.-THE cold and barre
peaks were burdened with slaugh,,
and crimsoned with blood. To Il
philosophic Hume they were shroude
il b.ackness and darkness. He SAT-
ssWhen look abroad. on every side
see dispute. contradiction and distra
ton. When turn my eye inward
find nothing but doubt and ignoranc